Storm moving eastward brings flooding, some drought relief, to Texas

A massive "southern soaker" storm system moving across the Midwest, South and East brought heavy rain and flooding to parts of Texas on Wednesday, and provided a bit of relief from a long-running drought in some areas.

Dallas’ White Rock Lake rose from a depth of 70 feet to 80 feet over the past day, according the NBCDFW.com, and was expected to crest 2 feet above flood stage at about 86 feet.

Flooding led to the closure of about two dozen roads in San Antonio, which received nearly 3 inches of rain overnight Tuesday. The Austin area recorded almost 2 inches of precipitation since Tuesday morning.

David Mosley, a Georgia resident visiting Dallas, told NBCDFW.com that the deluge was unexpected given what he’s heard about the drought.

"I've been hearing all about the Texas dust bowl and all this and I expected to see this when I got here,” Mosley said. This is not what I was expecting. It looks like a lake out here where last year I was out walking all over this dry ground."

The flash flood warnings, which means flash flooding is imminent and residents should move to higher ground, were in effect for Texas’ Orange, northern Jefferson and southeastern Hardin counties as well as northwestern Cameron, southwestern Jefferson Davis and Calcasieu parishes in Louisiana, the Weather Service reported. They were in effect until 8 p.m. CT.

The system was expected to subside in Dallas and move eastward on Wednesday night into Thursday, Weather.com reported.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms were forecast for eastern Texas into Louisiana, Arkansas and the lower-Mississippi Valley. Heavy rainfall was expected in some drought areas, which could also see flash flooding.

The northern Midwest was also seeing rain from the system, rather than the snow typically seen at this of the year. Parts of the mid-Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes could pick up an inch of more of rain, Weather.com reported.

The storm was forecast to move east late in the week and bring rain, but no snow, to most areas.